Mendocino National Forest · California

Chico Grc Nature Trail

0.6 mi of trail, end to end · trail No. 2W03 · the forest publishes the line only

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 39.7066, -121.7792 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Chico Seed Orchard the Forest Service's write-up

The Chico Seed Orchard is located on 209 acres in Chico, California. Development started in 1904 when the site was assigned to the Agricultural Research Service for the purpose of plant breeding research and plant introduction from all over the world.

The orchard's primary functions are:

Provide high-quality, source-identified seed.

Enhance reforestation success in current and future planting environments.

Promote gene conservation in the Pacific Southwest Region.

Focus on ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir seed production.

Seed produced at the Chico Seed Orchard benefits:

Ecological restoration

Wildfire recovery

Native American cultural values

Forest health, including research and disease resistance

The secondary function is to provide for recreation, public service, and education. Recreational activities include:

1-mile self-guided, paved and accessible nature trail

Wildlife and bird watching

Dog walking (leash required)

Picnicking

Trash and restrooms available

No public drinking water

Note: The main gate on site is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on holidays. The pedestrian gate is open seven days a week, except on holidays, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 1 through October 31. From November 1 through February 29, the pedestrian gate is open daily, except on holidays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are not allowed on the property after dark.

Restrictions <ul><li>Visitors are not allowed on the property after dark.</li><li>No public services available at the office.</li><li>Butte County pet leash laws apply, are posted, and are enforced.</li><li>Public access is restricted to specific roads and areas designated for recreational use.</li></ul>

This hike on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Mendocino National Forest

All 285 trails in Mendocino National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.